Hitting the corner

Spent 7 hours on the bike last weekend. Was the most pain I've ever felt on a bike. The Tawonga gap hill, with elevation up to 10-15% over several kilometres, told me to stop multiple times. I almost did. Multiple times. The lactic acid was heavy in my already 100km weary legs, I was cramping, and I was fresh from spending the last 2 months overseas working in kitchens and eating. I suffered. But I didn't stop.

When I look back, the things that kept me going were
(a) try to get into a rhythm. 8-10 pedals standing, then pedaling 10-20 strokes seated (till my legs were too tired). 8-10 standing, 10-20 seated. Repeatedly
(b) Literally grunting out the pain like a weightlifter pushing out every single ounce of strength to lift the bar over their head. Except my grunts were painful, shorter and more frequent.
(c) Telling myself to pedal just to the next corner, and there is surely a downhill. Was probably the one thing that got me by.

I made it to the top, and collapsed. My mates told me they heard me coming from a mile away.
"Pain is short-lived, but victory is forever"
Its been on my mind now for the last week. Hitting the shortterm goals for the longer term gain. If I thought about the distance left on the hill, I would have just jumped off and wouldn't bother. But I kept trying to hit the corner. Corner after corner, pounding and cranking the pedals without looking up beyond an occasional safety peek.

With Christmas coming around the corner, I'm gearing up to achieve the last few things I can before it comes. Don't give up!